"When a courtier rushed in, bringing news of the outrage, he smiled, and passing his hand over his face, observed,--`Truly it is surprising, but I feel not in the least hurt; nothing do I find amiss in my head, nothing in my face.' Although he had thus received the news so calmly, it created a disgust in his mind, both against the city and religion of Rome, which he has never overcome; and to this day he speaks of Rome-- alas! with too much justice--as an `idolatrous and abandoned city.' In spite of the wealth and influence of our bishop, our numbers, compared to that of the population, have continued to be small; and had it not been for the refuge afforded by the subterranean galleries outside the city, the church in Rome during the days of persecution would have been extinguished." Jovinian was allowed to pursue his studies at home under such tutors as Amulius recommended. Many months thus passed away, faster than he could have supposed possible. Gaius now treated his nephew with apparently perfect confidence, speaking unreservedly to him on matters of all sorts. Jovinian thus heard much more of what was going on than he otherwise probably would have done. He found that both Gaius and Coecus--although professedly Christians, as were some of the other pontiffs--visited the college frequently, on which occasions discussions were held with closed doors. So great at length became the confidence which Gaius reposed in his nephew, that he invited him frequently to attend these meetings,-- extracting a promise, however, that he would not divulge what he heard. On these occasions the pontiffs discussed the plans that had been proposed for maintaining their rank and position in Rome. Those who professed to have become Christians appeared to be and evidently were, on most friendly terms with the idolaters, all being united by a common interest. Their great object was to maintain their college in its integrity. "We may thus," observed Coecus one day, when visiting Gaius, "by keeping up our influence over the mass of the people, secure the election of the candidate of whom we approve to the office of bishop or any other dignities of the Church. We may select some of our own brethren, or any other persons whom we deem suitable." The plan was universally approved of. Its fruit was to be observed in after years, when the bishops of Rome found themselves controlled by the college of cardinals, the successors of the pontiffs. Christianity appeared to be making great progress in Rome. Several new churches and basilicas were in course of erection, and even some of the heathen temples were being converted so as to suit the worship of the Christians.